Power lauds superb team performance

By Michael Heverin

Tipperary manager David Power described his players as ‘superb’ in their thrilling Munster Championship win over Cork in Pairc Uí Rinn.

And he attributed the performance that shocked the Division 1 League champions to hard work.

“The players have worked so hard for the past three weeks,” he began.

“We could see the improvement, the league was a little hit and miss, but this was a real team performance. It was not dependent on any one girl, it was just amazing.”

It was also a welcome win for a Tipp side over Cork following defeats for the senior hurlers a week earlier and the senior footballers earlier that day to the Rebels. But Power was already looking ahead.

“It’s a victory but we have won nothing yet. Meeting Kerry in Clonmel next Sunday is an opportunity to get to a Munster final and that would be huge for this group. To beat Cork, the Division 1 League champions, in their own backyard is super, but we need to drive on”, he said.

Power was vocal from the sideline throughout the game, urging his players to pin the Cork defence deep in their own half.

“We didn’t want to let Cork get beyond their own 45 and breaking from defence,” he added.

“Cork got very few shots off from their own kick-outs. During the league we were frustrated, we might score a point and then the opposition would go down and get a shot off quickly. Against Cork they worked like dogs and were superb.

“Our defence didn’t give them a sniff. We have worked so hard with all our backroom team, including Con (Brennan), Elaine (Harte), Una (O’Brien), and our nutritionist and strength and conditioning”.

He highlighted strength and conditioning. “The work-rate was just incredible and there were girls crawling off the field at the end”.

Power added that he and his management team have been in the job for about five months and it was going to take time to get their style of play implemented, but with hard work and training, the results are coming.

“We beat Donegal in what I would describe as a one point hammering and they won Division 2, so we are right up there. I have been talking to the girls about belief and we have nothing to fear. This win over Cork is a massive stepping stone and now we must drive on, get a big crowd to Clonmel on Sunday and see can we beat Kerry”.

Kerry were defeated by Waterford in Tralee in their opening game with the Munster Championship thrown wide open.